Critically Examine the Extent to Which Happiness Is Linked with the Content of Our Leisure Lifestyles
Critically examine the extent to which happiness is linked with the content of our leisure lifestyles.
The focal point of this paper is happiness and the degree to which it is connected with the content of people’s leisure lifestyles. Therefore, to examine this subject thoroughly, an insight into some of the psychological and physiological theories will be presented.
The definition of happiness is one of the greatest philosophical quandaries.
As said by one of the greatest contributors to Western philosophy, Aristotle,
“more then anything else, men and women seek happiness.” Moreover, every ambition such as health, beauty, money, or power is treasured only because people expect that it will bring them happiness. (Csikszentmihalyi, 1992)
Throughout the centuries, psychologists and philosophers searched for ways in which to improve the quality of experience. A great contribution in understanding what conditions can generate happiness comes from sociology, economics and neuroscience.
Although, Aristotle died even before the Christ was born, as said by Csikszentmihalyi (1992) “we do not understand what happiness is any better than Aristotle did.”
Yet, despite all the great knowledge and amazing improvements, which made our lives more comfortable,
“people still end up feeling that their lives have been wasted , that instead of being filled with happiness their years were spent in anxiety and boredom.” Csikszentmihalyi (1992, p.1)
Layard (2005),observes that, although societies became richer, people are not happier. A comparable view holds Scitovsky (1992), who notes that, when people become richer with other people, they become happier. But when whole societies have become richer, they have not become happier.
Possibly more significant source of satisfaction, still connected with income hierarchy is work. According to Marx, work provided the most important means for people to fulfill their basic needs and held
The focal point of this paper is happiness and the degree to which it is connected with the content of people’s leisure lifestyles. Therefore, to examine this subject thoroughly, an insight into some of the psychological and physiological theories will be presented.
The definition of happiness is one of the greatest philosophical quandaries.
As said by one of the greatest contributors to Western philosophy, Aristotle,
“more then anything else, men and women seek happiness.” Moreover, every ambition such as health, beauty, money, or power is treasured only because people expect that it will bring them happiness. (Csikszentmihalyi, 1992)
Throughout the centuries, psychologists and philosophers searched for ways in which to improve the quality of experience. A great contribution in understanding what conditions can generate happiness comes from sociology, economics and neuroscience.
Although, Aristotle died even before the Christ was born, as said by Csikszentmihalyi (1992) “we do not understand what happiness is any better than Aristotle did.”
Yet, despite all the great knowledge and amazing improvements, which made our lives more comfortable,
“people still end up feeling that their lives have been wasted , that instead of being filled with happiness their years were spent in anxiety and boredom.” Csikszentmihalyi (1992, p.1)
Layard (2005),observes that, although societies became richer, people are not happier. A comparable view holds Scitovsky (1992), who notes that, when people become richer with other people, they become happier. But when whole societies have become richer, they have not become happier.
Possibly more significant source of satisfaction, still connected with income hierarchy is work. According to Marx, work provided the most important means for people to fulfill their basic needs and held
References: Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990) Beyond Boredom and Anxiety. Jossey- Bass Inc., San Francisco. Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1992) Flow. The Psychology of Happiness. Rider, London. Haralambos, M. & Holborn, M. (1991) Sociology. Themes and Perspectives. 3rd Edition. Collins Educational, London. Layard, R. (2005) Happiness. Lessons from a New Science. Allen Lane. GB MacNulty, Ch., (1986) citied in Ekins, P. (1986) The Living Economy: The New Economics in the Making. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=9JXTskSUA1wC&dq=macnulty&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0- accessed on 27/04/2008 Mannel, R.C., Kleiber, D.A. (1997) A Social Psychology of Leisure. Venture Publishing, USA. Scitovsky, T. (1992) The Joyless Economy. Revised Edition. Oxford University Press, New York. Torkildsen, G. (1992) Leisure and Recreation Management. 3rd Edition. E&FN SPON, London.